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…Calls for special electricity tariff
By Bimbola Oyesola
In a bid to save Nigeria from being turned to a dumping ground and salvage jobs, the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather, and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) has charged the Federal Government to impose restrictions on importation of goods that are already being manufactured locally.
President of NUCFRLANMPE, Bolarinwa Sunday, in an interview with Daily Sun Workforce, said this would further boost domestic production as well as protect local manufacturers.
Bolarinwa, who recently assumed the leadership of the union emphasised that the importation of such items, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, was undercutting local industries and deterring investment.
“The government must restrict the importation of certain items that are produced in Nigeria, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry,” he said.
According to him, this will help promote local consumption, noting that despite the capacity for local production, significant quantities of items like anaesthetics are still being imported, undermining local manufacturers’ competitiveness.
In addition to import restrictions, Bolarinwa said, “As a nation, we should look inward and add value to our raw materials before exportation,” suggesting that value-added production could stimulate job creation and enhance the country’s economic self-sufficiency.
The union is also advocating a special electricity tariff exclusively for the manufacturing sector.
Bolarinwa explained that high production costs, fuelled by rising electricity tariffs and limited power supply, were straining operations in the sector.
“We suggested a special tariff for manufacturing industries that isn’t too exorbitant. While the government’s stance has been to deregulate the power sector and remove subsidies, we emphasise that no nation can survive with the complete removal of subsidies in every sector,” he stated.
He explained that even in more advanced countries, there is some level of subsidy.
In the same vein, the NUCFRLANMPE boss urged government to review the high custom duties being paid by manufacturers when importing raw materials for production.
He stressed that, if such measures were implemented, the local manufacturing industry would thrive.
“No economy can grow without sufficient production. These industries sustain our workers, and it is in their best interests that we advocate for an enabling business environment,” he stressed.
